Adjustable Toe Suspension Arm

ABSTRACT

Suspension arm for use on remote control vehicles that provides suspension movement on 2 pivoting axis parallel to the vehicle chassis at opposite ends of the suspension arm along with an adjustable 3 rd  axis perpendicular to the ground to adjust and set the tracking of the vehicle&#39;s rear suspension drive component commonly referred to as “toe” in the automotive community.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This suspension arm type is widely used in the design of many vehicles and especially remote control vehicles for its simplicity, strength, and cost. The means of setting the vehicles tracking characteristic or “toe” is typically achieved by integrally choosing the angle of the tire's tracking by either the inboard hinge where the suspension arm pivots at the vehicle chassis or the outboard hinge where the suspension arm hinges with a component that houses an axle, bearings, and ultimately the tire. Adjustment of the “toe” in this assembly is achieved by changing either one single component or the mounting location of one or more components. With the use of this invention the “toe” characteristic is easily adjustable on the vehicle in a wide degree range both angling the driving tire toward and away from the vehicle chassis by the use of a simple screw driver. This invention allows the “toe” characteristic to be easily and quickly adjustable providing greater control of the vehicle to the radio operator of a remote control vehicle.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE ADJUSTABLE TOE SUSPENSION ARM

The Adjustable Toe Suspension Arm is comprised of:

Main Suspension Bracket that is fixed at the inboard hinge portion of the vehicles chassis.

Outer Swing Bracket that is mounted to Main Suspension Bracket using a screw and nut creating a fixed pivoting point on the same axis as the “toe” setting. The Outer Swing Bracket component includes the necessary outboard hinge. Combining the Main Suspension Bracket and Outer Swing Bracket provide both of the necessary inboard and outboard hinge locations to serve function as a Suspension Arm.

A Drive Screw engaged using the Drive Screw's threads is threaded thru a Sliding Nut.

Adding to the description of the invention is a diagram which is also part of this submission:

FIG. 1: Showing all pertaining parts, introducing them by name, and showing their relation to one another.

FIG. 2: Showing the Outer Swing Bracket and its mating point with the Main Suspension Bracket to create a pivoting point.

FIG. 3: Showing the Main Suspension Bracket and its mating point with the Outer Swing Bracket to create a pivoting point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ADJUSTABLE TOE SUSPENSION ARM

Sliding Nut is threaded roughly half way down the entire length of the Drive Screw's threads so that approximately equal portions of the Drive Screw are on each side of the Sliding Nut.

Drive Screw is housed in a fixed location in the Main Suspension Bracket so as when the Drive Screw is turned, it does not change location relative to the Main Suspension Bracket. With the Drive Screw in its housing, the Sliding Nut locates in a slotted channel parallel to the Drive Screw. Affixing the Outer Swing Bracket to the Main Suspension Bracket using simple screws and nuts encloses and secures the Drive Screw and Sliding Nut mechanism. The remaining portion of the Sliding Nut locates into a pocket in the Outer Swing Bracket that is elongated only slightly in a direction perpendicular to the Drive Screw.

With the parts assembled a screw driver tool is placed thru a hole in the Main Suspension Bracket to gain access and engage movement to the Drive Screw. Turning the Drive Screw in its fixed location only allows for rotational movement only for the Drive Screw. The turning of the Drive Screw and its thread engagement to the Slide Nut causes the Sliding Nut to move up or down the path of travel on the threads of the Drive Screw depending on which way the Drive Screw is rotated. Consequently this causes the Slide Nut to change its location within its mating channel in the Main Suspension Bracket and the mating pocket in the Outer Swing Bracket. As the Sliding Nut moves with the rotational movement of the Drive Screw, the Sliding Nut movement along a straight path rotates the Outer Swing, changing the angle of the outboard hinge where the component that houses an axle, bearings, and ultimately the tire is located effectively resulting in a change of the vehicles track or “toe”. 

1. An Adjustable Toe Suspension Arm is comprised of; Main Suspension Bracket that is fixed at the inboard hinge portion of the vehicles chassis, Outer Swing Bracket that is mated to the said Main Suspension Bracket using a fixed pivoting point on the same axis as the “toe” setting , a Drive Screw engaged using the said Drive Screw's threads is threaded thru a Sliding Nut. So that when the said parts are assembled; turning the said Drive Screw causes the said Sliding Nut to move up or down the path of travel on the threads of the said Drive Screw depending on which way the said Drive Screw is rotated. Consequently this causes the said Slide Nut to change its location within its mating channel in the said Main Suspension Bracket and the mating pocket in the said Outer Swing Bracket. As the said Sliding Nut moves with the rotational movement of the said Drive Screw, the said Sliding Nut movement along a straight path rotates the said Outer Swing, changing the angle of the outboard hinge where the component that houses an axle, bearings, and ultimately the tire is located effectively resulting in a change of the vehicles track or “toe”.
 2. The invention of claim 1 comprised of all the said parts with the use of a tie rod in replacement of said Drive Screw for means of adjusting the position of the said Sliding Nut. 